Six charities to benefit from expert training

Date posted: 8th April 2021

Six charities will be trained in delivering Manchester-based Henshaws ‘I Can Do It’ programme, thanks to funding from Thomas Pocklington Trust.

‘I Can Do It’ comprises free residential courses for children and young people with visual impairments which are designed to boost independence.  The course covers social and emotional skills, keeping safe at home, outside and online, living independently with a visual impairment, kitchen skills and transitions, goals and aspiration, as well as being fun.

One of the young people who has done the course, 16-year-old Freeha, said: “The tech session we did I found really useful as I have a lot of trouble with independent journeying and I learned about Apps that can help me with that.”

Now Henshaws has been asked to deliver training to six other charities to enable them to set up their own ‘I Can Do It’ courses. Community Services Manager Mel Cooke will share the knowledge gained from running the successful courses, albeit remotely because of Covid restrictions. Three charities are already involved, with excellent feedback on what they have learned, and Henshaws would like to hear from any others who would like to take part.

Mel said: “I have been delighted to work on the ‘I Can Do It’ online learning platform to ensure all children and young people can still access the support they may need under any circumstances and in any location.

This course has been designed to work with children and young people in learning new skills both physically and emotionally to allow them to become more independent, more confident and to have the ability and confidence to communicate effectively in more social settings. This is the start of these young people growing and learning about the opportunities for their future.”

She added: “I am grateful to Thomas Pocklington Trust for its support with this programme and excited to share it with the charities that are going to be trained up to allow them to use this great tool with their children and young people. As always, we are happy to support anyone who may be interested in getting involved with the programme, should that be to deliver in your own setting or to allow a young person with a visual impairment to attend the course to support them in becoming independent.”

Emma Cruickshank, Head of the Children, Young People and Families team at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “Henshaws’ ‘I Can Do It’ course has helped to boost the confidence and independence of so many young people in the North West.  We want more young people from across the UK to benefit from this excellent course which is why we are supporting Henshaws to deliver this ‘train the trainer’ type of course. This will share the learning and empower other organisations to deliver the course in their areas.”

 

Charities interested in learning to deliver the course should contact Mel.Cooke@henshaws.org.uk

More information on the programme can be seen on Henshaws’ website: www.henshaws.org.uk/courses/i-can-do-it

 

ENDS

For further information or images please contact:

Deirdra Barr, Marketing Director, telephone number 0300 222 5555/07595 722561 or email: Deirdra.barr@henshaws.org.uk

Penny Wilkinson, Thomas Pocklington Trust, penny.wilkinson@pocklington-trust.org.uk  07974 578 637.

 

Editors’ Notes

About Henshaws

Founded in 1837, Henshaws supports people living with sight loss and a range of other disabilities to go beyond expectations. There are approximately 79,000 people living with sight loss across Greater Manchester (RNIB, 2017), which is expected to increase by 20% by 2030. Registered charity number 221888, headquarters Talbot Road, Stretford, M32 0FP.

About Thomas Pocklington Trust

Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity dedicated to enabling and empowering blind and partially sighted people of all ages to live the life they want to lead. We are committed to increasing awareness and understanding of their needs and aspirations, to working with partners and to developing and implementing services which meet these needs to increase independence and improve lives. These include:

• Acting as an advocate and positive change agent for blind and partially sighted people.
• Creating opportunities for blind and partially sighted people seeking employment.
• Enabling opportunities and supporting blind and partially sighted people whilst in and entering education.
• Facilitating the voice and encouraging self-determination of blind and partially sighted people.
• Being an effective partner and grant funder based on our knowledge of the sector.